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{{About|the comic book company using this name beginning mid-1961|the earlier comic book series|Marvel Mystery Comics}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox publisher
| image = [[File:MarvelLogo.svg|200 px]]
| parent = [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel Entertainment, LLC]]<br> ([[The Walt Disney Company]])
| status =
| founded = {{Start date|1939}} (as [[Timely Comics]])
| founder = [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]]
| successor =
| country = United States
| headquarters = 135 W. 50th Street, New York City
| distribution =
| keypeople = [[Axel Alonso]], [[editor-in-chief|EIC]]<br>[[Dan Buckley]], publisher, COO<br>
[[Stan Lee]], former [[editor-in-chief|EIC]], publisher
| publications = Comics/''See [[List of Marvel Comics publications (A–M)|List of Marvel Comics publications]]''
| topics =
| genre = Crime, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, war, Western, superheroes
| imprints = [[#Imprints|imprint list]]
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|125.7 million|link=yes}} <small>(2007)</small>
| numemployees =
| nasdaq =
| url = {{URL|http://www.marvel.com}}
}}
'''Marvel Worldwide, Inc.''', commonly referred to as '''Marvel Comics''' and formerly '''Marvel Publishing, Inc.''' and '''Marvel Comics Group''', is an American publisher of [[comic book]]s and related media. In 2009, [[The Walt Disney Company]] acquired [[Marvel Entertainment]], Marvel Worldwide's parent company.

Marvel started in 1939 as [[Timely Comics|Timely Publications]], and by the early 1950s had generally become known as [[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]]. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched ''[[The Fantastic Four]]'' and other superhero titles created by [[Stan Lee]], [[Jack Kirby]], [[Steve Ditko]], and many others.

Marvel counts among [[List of Marvel Comics characters|its characters]] such well-known properties as [[Spider-Man]], the [[X-Men]], the [[Fantastic Four]], [[Iron Man]], the [[Hulk (comics)|Hulk]], [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], [[Captain America]], the [[Silver Surfer]], and the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and antagonists such as the [[Green Goblin]], [[Doctor Octopus]], [[Magneto (comics)|Magneto]], [[Doctor Doom]], [[Loki (comics)|Loki]], [[Galactus]], [[Thanos]], and the [[Red Skull]]. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the [[Marvel Universe]], with locations that mirror real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Marvel Comics and its major, longtime competitor [[DC Comics]] shared over 80% of the American comic-book market in 2008.

==History==

===Timely Publications===
: {{Main|Timely Comics}}
[[File:MarvelComics1.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Marvel Mystery Comics|Marvel Comics]]'' #1 (Oct. 1939), the first comic from Marvel precursor [[Timely Comics]]. Cover art by [[Frank R. Paul]].]]

[[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] founded the company later known as Marvel Comics under the name Timely Publications in 1939,<ref name="MMC4">Per statement of ownership, dated October 2, 1939, published in ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics]]'' #4 (Feb. 1940), p. 40; reprinted in ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics'' Volume 1 (Marvel Comics, 2004, ISBN 0-7851-1609-5), p. 239</ref> publishing comic books under the [[imprint]] Timely Comics.<ref name=daniels27>{{cite book|authorlink=Les Daniels|last=Daniels|first= Les| title=Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics| publisher=[[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]| location= New York City|year= 1991|pages= 27, 32–33.|isbn=0-8109-3821-9 | quote=Timely Publications became the name under which Goodman first published a comic book line. He eventually created a number of companies to publish comics ... but Timely was the name by which Goodman's Golden Age comics were known. . . . Marvel wasn't always Marvel; in the early 1940s the company was known as Timely Comics....}}</ref> Goodman, a [[pulp magazine]] publisher who had started with a [[Western fiction|Western]] pulp in 1933, was expanding into the emerging—and by then already highly popular—new medium of comic books. Launching his new line from his existing company's offices at 330 West 42nd Street, New York City, he officially held the titles of [[editing|editor]], managing editor, and [[business manager]], with Abraham Goodman officially listed as publisher.<ref name="MMC4" />

Timely's first publication, ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics|Marvel Comics]]'' #1 ([[cover date]]d Oct. 1939), included the first appearance of [[Carl Burgos|Carl Burgos']] [[Android (robot)|android]] [[superhero]] the [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]], and the first generally available appearance of [[Bill Everett|Bill Everett's]] [[anti-hero]] [[Namor|Namor the Sub-Mariner]], among other features. <!--Namor had debuted in Motion Picture Funnies #1; see Wikipedia Sub-Mariner article--> The issue was a great success, with it and a second printing the following month selling, combined, nearly 900,000 copies.<ref name="fromm">Per researcher Keif Fromm, ''[[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]'' #49, p. 4 (caption), ''Marvel Comics'' #1, cover-dated October 1939, quickly sold out 80,000 copies, prompting Goodman to produce a second printing, cover-dated November 1939. The latter appears identical except for a black bar over the October date in the inside front-cover [[indicia (publishing)|indicia]], and the November date added at the end. That sold approximately 800,000 copies—a large figure in the market of that time. Also per Fromm, the first issue of ''Captain America Comics'' sold nearly one million copies.</ref> While its contents came from an outside packager, [[Funnies, Inc.]], Timely by the following year had its own staff in place.

The company's first true editor, writer-artist [[Joe Simon]], teamed with artist and emerging industry notable [[Jack Kirby]] to create one of the first{ patriotically themed [[superheroes]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Goulart|first=Ron|title=Comic book culture: an illustrated history|publisher=Collectors Press, Inc.|year=2000 | page = 173 |isbn=978-1-888054-38-5}}. Preceding Captain America were [[MLJ Comics]]' the [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield]] and [[Fawcett Comics]]' [[Minute-Man]].</ref> [[Captain America]], in ''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941) It, too, proved a major sales hit, with sales of nearly one million.<ref name="fromm" />

While no other Timely character would achieve the success of these "big three", some notable heroes—many of which continue to appear in modern-day [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]] appearances and flashbacks—include the [[Whizzer (Robert Frank)|Whizzer]], [[Miss America (Marvel Comics)|Miss America]], the [[Destroyer (Keen Marlow)|Destroyer]], the original [[Vision (Timely Comics)|Vision]], and the [[Angel (Thomas Halloway)|Angel]]. Timely also published one of humor cartoonist [[Basil Wolverton]]'s best-known features, "[[Powerhouse Pepper]]",<ref>[http://www.comics.org/search.lasso?type=character&query=powerhouse+pepper&sort=chrono&Submit=Search Powerhouse Pepper] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics|publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]]/[[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year= 1981}}</ref> as well as a line of children's [[funny animal|funny-animal]] comics featuring popular characters like [[Super Rabbit]] and the duo [[Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal]].

Goodman hired his wife's cousin,<ref>{{cite book|authorlink=Stan Lee|first=Stan|last=Lee|last2= Mair|first2= George|title=Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group|Fireside Books]]|year= 2002|page= 22|isbn= 0-684-87305-2}}</ref> Stanley Lieber, as a general office assistant<!--note: not his personal assistant--> in 1939.<ref>{{cite book|authorlink=Joe Simon|last=Simon|first=Joe|last2=with Simon|first2=Jim | title=The Comic Book Makers|publisher=Crestwood/II Publications|year= 1990|page= 208|isbn=1-887591-35-4}}</ref> When editor Simon left the company in late 1941,<ref name=mylife113-14>{{cite book|title=Joe Simon: My Life in Comics|authorlink=Joe Simon|first=Joe |last=Simon|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year= 2011|location=London, UK| isbn= 978-1-84576-930-7 | pages = 113–114}}</ref> Goodman made Lieber—by then writing pseudonymously as "[[Stan Lee]]"—interim editor of the comics line, a position Lee kept for decades except for three years during his military service in [[World War II]]. Lee wrote extensively for Timely, contributing to a number of different titles.

Goodman's business strategy involved having his various magazines and comic books published by a number of corporations all operating out of the same office and with the same staff.<ref name=daniels27 /> One of these [[Shell corporation|shell companies]] through which Timely Comics was published was named Marvel Comics by at least ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' #55 (May 1944). As well, some comics' covers, such as ''All Surprise Comics'' #12 (Winter 1946–47), were labeled "A Marvel Magazine" many years before Goodman would formally adopt the name in 1961.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/75617/cover/4/ Cover, ''All Surprise Comics'' #12] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref>

===Atlas Comics===
{{Main|Atlas Comics (1950s)}}
The post-war American comic market saw superheroes falling out of fashion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wright | first= Bradford W. |title=Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America| publisher=The [[Johns Hopkins University]] Press|year= 2001|isbn= 978-0-8018-6514-5|page= 57}}</ref> Goodman's comic book line dropped them for the most part and expanded into a wider variety of genres than even Timely had published, featuring [[horror fiction|horror]], [[Westerns]], humor, [[funny animal]], [[men's adventure]]-drama, giant monster, [[crime fiction|crime]], and [[war comics]], and later adding [[jungle]] books, [[Romance comics in the United States (1946–1975)|romance]] titles, [[spy fiction|espionage]], and even [[medieval]] adventure, [[Bible stories]] and sports.

Goodman began using the globe logo of the Atlas News Company, the newsstand-distribution company he owned,<ref name=stjames /> on comics [[cover-date]]d November 1951 even though another company, Kable News, continued to distribute his comics through the August 1952 issues.<ref name=gcdatlasglobe>[http://www.comics.org/brand/93/ Marvel : Atlas <nowiki>[wireframe globe]</nowiki> (Brand)] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> This globe branding united a line put out by the same publisher, staff and freelancers through 59 shell companies, from Animirth Comics to Zenith Publications.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/publisher/78/indicia_publishers/ Marvel Indicia Publishers] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

Atlas, rather than innovate, took a proven route of following [[fashion|popular trends]] in television and movies—[[Western fiction|Westerns]] and war dramas prevailing for a time, [[Drive-in theater|drive-in movie]] monsters another time—and even other comic books, particularly the [[Entertaining Comics|EC]] [[horror (genre)|horror]] line.<ref>Per [[Les Daniels]] in ''Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics'', pp. 67–68: "The success of EC had a definite influence on Marvel. As Stan Lee recalls, 'Martin Goodman would say, "Stan, let's do a different kind of book," and it was usually based on how the competition was doing. When we found that EC's horror books were doing well, for instance, we published a lot of horror books'".</ref> Atlas also published a plethora of children's and teen humor titles, including [[Dan DeCarlo]]'s ''[[Homer the Happy Ghost]]'' (à la ''[[Casper the Friendly Ghost]]'') and ''Homer Hooper'' (à la [[Archie Andrews (comics)|Archie Andrews]]). Atlas unsuccessfully attempted to revive superheroes from late 1953 to mid-1954, with the Human Torch (art by [[Syd Shores]] and [[Dick Ayers]], variously), the [[Namor|Sub-Mariner]] (drawn and most stories written by [[Bill Everett]]), and [[Captain America]] (writer [[Stan Lee]], artist [[John Romita Sr.]]).

[[File:Fantastic Four Vol 1 01 Cover.jpg|thumb|left|''[[The Fantastic Four]]'' #1 (Nov. 1961). Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] (penciler) and unconfirmed inker.]]

===Marvel Comics===
The first modern comic books under the Marvel Comics brand were the science-fiction anthology ''[[Journey into Mystery]]'' #69 and the teen-humor title ''[[Patsy Walker]]'' #95 (both [[cover date]]d June 1961), which each displayed an "MC" box on its cover.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/brand/36/ Marvel : MC (Brand)] at the [[Grand Comics Database]].</ref> Then, in the wake of [[DC Comics]]' success in reviving superheroes in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly with the [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Flash]], [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]], and other members of the team the [[Justice League|Justice League of America]], Marvel followed suit.{{refn|Apocryphal legend has it that in 1961, either [[Jack Liebowitz]] or [[Irwin Donenfeld]] of DC Comics (then known as National Periodical Publications)<!--also known as name is mentioned here because Stan Lee says "National Comics" in quote directly below this paragraph--> bragged about DC's success with the Justice League (which had debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 [February 1960] before going on to its own title) to [[publisher]] [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] (whose holdings included the nascent Marvel Comics) during a game of golf.
<br><br>
However, film producer and comics historian [[Michael Uslan]] partly debunked the story in a letter published in ''Alter Ego'' #43 (December 2004), pp. 43–44
{{quote|Irwin said he never played golf with Goodman, so the story is untrue. I heard this story more than a couple of times while sitting in the lunchroom at DC's 909 Third Avenue and 75 Rockefeller Plaza office as [[Sol Harrison]] and [production chief] [[Jack Adler]] were schmoozing with some of us ... who worked for DC during our college summers.... [T]he way I heard the story from Sol was that Goodman was playing with one of the heads of Independent News, not DC Comics (though DC ''owned'' Independent News). ... As the distributor of DC Comics, this man certainly knew all the sales figures and was in the best position to tell this tidbit to Goodman. ... Of course, Goodman would want to be playing golf with this fellow and be in his good graces. ... Sol worked closely with Independent News' top management over the decades and would have gotten this story straight from the horse's mouth.}}

Goodman, a publishing trend-follower aware of the JLA's strong sales, confirmably directed his comics editor, [[Stan Lee]], to create a comic-book series about a team of superheroes. According to Lee in ''Origins of Marvel Comics'' ([[Marvel Fireside Books|Simon and Schuster/Fireside Books]], 1974), p. 16:
"Martin mentioned that he had noticed one of the titles published by National Comics seemed to be selling better than most. It was a book called ''The'' {{sic}} ''Justice League of America'' and it was composed of a team of superheroes. ... ' If the Justice League is selling ', spoke he, 'why don't we put out a comic book that features a team of superheroes?'"|group=n}}

The introduction of modern Marvel's first [[superhero]] team, in ''[[Fantastic Four|The Fantastic Four]]'' #1,<!--first 14 issues had "The" in the title--> (Nov. 1961),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/1482/ ''Fantastic Four''] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> began establishing the company's reputation.<!--Cited page taken down in March 2011. Not archived. Commenting out for now while searching for outside confirmation of this statistical claim: From then until the end of 1969, Marvel published a total of 831 comic books with at least one new superhero story,<ref>[http://www.storypilot.com/sf/marvels-of-the-60s.html "Marvel Original Superhero Comics of the 1960s"], StoryPilot.com, n.d.</ref>--> The majority of its superhero stories were written by editor-in-chief [[Stan Lee]]. The company continued to publish a smattering of [[Western comics]] such as ''[[Rawhide Kid]]'', humor comics such as ''[[Millie the Model]]'', and [[romance comics]] such as ''Love Romances'', and added the [[war comics|war comic]] ''[[Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos]]''.

Editor-writer Lee and freelance artist [[Jack Kirby]]'s Fantastic Four, reminiscent of the non-superpowered adventuring quartet the [[Challengers of the Unknown]] that Kirby had created for DC in 1957, originated in a [[Cold War]] culture that led their creators to revise the superhero conventions of previous eras to better reflect the psychological spirit of their age.<ref>Genter, Robert. "'With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility': Cold War Culture and the Birth of Marvel Comics", ''The Journal of Popular Culture'' 40:6, 2007</ref> Eschewing such comic book tropes as secret identities and even costumes at first, having a monster as one of the heroes, and having its characters bicker and complain in what was later called a "superheroes in the real world" approach, the series represented a change that proved to be a great success.<ref>Comics historian Greg Theakston has suggested that the decision to include monsters and initially to distance the new breed of superheroes from costumes was a conscious one, and born of necessity. Since DC distributed Marvel's output at the time, Theakston theorizes that "Goodman and Lee decided to keep their superhero line looking as much like their horror line as they possibly could," downplaying "the fact that [Marvel] was now creating heroes" with the effect that they ventured "into deeper waters, where DC had never considered going". See Ro, pp. 87–88</ref> Marvel began publishing further superhero titles featuring such heroes and antiheroes as the [[Hulk (comics)|Hulk]], [[Spider-Man]], [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], [[Henry Pym|Ant-Man]], [[Iron Man]], the [[X-Men]], [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]], and the [[Silver Surfer]], and such memorable antagonists as [[Doctor Doom]], [[Magneto (comics)|Magneto]], [[Galactus]], [[Loki (comics)|Loki]], the [[Green Goblin]], and [[Doctor Octopus]], all existing in a shared reality known as the [[Marvel Universe]], with locations that mirror real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.<ref name=ultimatemarveluni>[http://www.ultimatemarveluniverse.com/ Ultimate Marvel Universe]. Retrieved October 18, 2008.</ref>

Lee and Steve Ditko generated the most successful new series in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''. Marvel even lampooned itself and other comics companies in a [[parody]] comic, ''[[Not Brand Echh]]'' (a play on Marvel's dubbing of other companies as "Brand Echh", à la the then-common phrase "Brand X").<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,938716,00.html |title=The Real Brand X |work=Time |date=October 31, 1960 |accessdate=April 27, 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110629022930/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,938716,00.html | archivedate=June 29, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>

Marvel's comics had a reputation for focusing on characterization to a greater extent than most superhero comics before them.<ref>Roberts, Randy, and James S. Olson. ''American Experiences: Readings in American History: Since 1865'', 4th edition (American Experiences / [[Addison–Wesley]], 1998), p. 317. ISBN 978-0-321-01031-5: "Marvel Comics employed a realism in both characterization and setting in its superhero titles that was unequaled in the comic book industry."</ref> This applied to ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' in particular. Its young hero suffered from self-doubt and mundane problems like any other teenager. Marvel often presents flawed superheroes, freaks, and misfits—unlike the perfect, handsome, athletic heroes found in previous traditional comic books. Some Marvel heroes looked like villains and monsters. In time, this non-traditional approach would revolutionize comic books. This [[naturalism (literature)|naturalistic]] approach even extended into topical politics. Wrote comics historian Mike Benton,
{{quote|text=In the world of [rival [[DC Comics]]'] [[Superman]] comic books, communism did not exist. Superman rarely crossed national borders or involved himself in political disputes.<ref>{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Benton|title=Superhero Comics of the Silver Age: The Illustrated History |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company|location=Dallas, Texas|isbn=978-0-87833-746-0|year=1991|page =35}}</ref> From 1962 to 1965, there were more communists [in Marvel Comics] than on the subscription list of ''[[Pravda]]''. Communist agents attack Ant-Man in his laboratory, red henchmen jump the Fantastic Four on the moon, and [[Viet Cong]] guerrillas take potshots at Iron Man.<ref>Benton, p. 38.</ref>}}

Writer Geoff Boucher in 2009 reflected that, "Superman and DC Comics instantly seemed like boring old [[Pat Boone]]; Marvel felt like [[The Beatles]] and the [[British Invasion]]. It was Kirby's artwork with its tension and [[psychedelia]] that made it perfect for the times—or was it Lee's bravado and melodrama, which was somehow insecure and brash at the same time?"<ref name=laxgb>{{cite news|last=Boucher| first=Geoff|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/09/jack-kirby-the-forgotten-hero-in-marvels-grand-hollywood-adventure.html |title=Jack Kirby, the abandoned hero of Marvel's grand Hollywood adventure, and his family's quest|work=Los Angeles Times|date= September 25, 2009 (online); longer version of September 27, 2009 (print version)|accessdate =September 28, 2011|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110725154424/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2009/09/25/jack-kirby-the-forgotten-hero-in-marvels-grand-hollywood-adventure/ | archivedate=June 25, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>

[[File:Avengers4.jpg|thumb|''[[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]]'' #4 (March 1964), with (from left to right), the [[Wasp (comics)|Wasp]], [[Henry Pym|Giant-Man]], [[Captain America]], [[Iron Man]], [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] and (inset) the [[Sub-Mariner]]. Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[George Roussos]].]]

===Cadence Industries ownership===
In 1968, while selling 50 million comic books a year, company founder Goodman revised the constraining distribution arrangement with Independent News he had reached under duress during the Atlas years, allowing him now to release as many titles as demand warranted.<ref name=stjames /> In the fall of that year he sold Marvel Comics and his other publishing businesses to the [[Cadence Industries|Perfect Film and Chemical Corporation]], which grouped them as the subsidiary [[Magazine Management|Magazine Management Company]], with Goodman remaining as publisher.<ref>Daniels, ''Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics'', p. 139.</ref> In 1969, Goodman finally ended his distribution deal with Independent by signing with [[Curtis Circulation|Curtis Circulation Company]].<ref name=stjames>{{cite book|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Marvel-Entertainment-Group-Inc-Company-History.html |chapter=Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.|title= International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 10| publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] / St. James Press, via FundingUniverse.com|year= 1995|location=Farmington Hills, Michigan| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110711054637/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Marvel-Entertainment-Group-Inc-Company-History.html| archivedate=July 11, 2011|accessdate=September 28, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>

In 1971, the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] approached Marvel Comics editor-in-chief [[Stan Lee]] to do a comic book story about drug abuse. Lee agreed and wrote a three-part [[Spider-Man]] story portraying drug use as dangerous and unglamorous. However, the industry's self-censorship board, the [[Comics Code Authority]], refused to approve the story because of the presence of narcotics, deeming the context of the story irrelevant. Lee, with Goodman's approval, published the story regardless in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #96–98 (May–July 1971), without the Comics Code seal. The market reacted well to the storyline, and the CCA subsequently revised the Code the same year.<ref>Nyberg, Amy Kiste. ''Seal of Approval: History of the Comics Code''. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, Miss., 1998</ref>

[[File:Howard The Duck -8.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Howard the Duck]]'' #8 (January 1977). Cover art by [[Gene Colan]] and [[Steve Leialoha]]]]

Goodman retired as publisher in 1972 and installed his son, Chip, as publisher,<ref name=Ronin/> Shortly thereafter, Lee succeeded him as publisher and also became Marvel's president<ref name=Ronin/> for a brief time.<ref name="autobio">Lee, Mair, p. 5.</ref> During his time as president, he appointed as editor-in-chief [[Roy Thomas]], who added "Stan Lee Presents" to the opening page of each comic book.<ref name=Ronin/>

A series of new editors-in-chief oversaw the company during another slow time for the industry. Once again, Marvel attempted to diversify, and with the updating of the Comics Code achieved moderate to strong success with titles themed to [[horror (genre)|horror]] (''[[The Tomb of Dracula]]''), martial arts, ''([[Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu]]''), [[sword-and-sorcery]] (''[[Conan (Marvel Comics)|Conan the Barbarian]]'', ''[[Red Sonja]]''), satire (''[[Howard the Duck]]'') and science fiction (''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (comics)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', "[[Killraven]]" in ''[[Amazing Adventures]]'', ''[[Star Trek]]'', and, late in the decade, the long-running ''[[Star Wars]]'' series). Some of these were published in larger-format black and white magazines, under its [[Curtis Magazines]] imprint. Marvel was able to capitalize on its successful superhero comics of the previous decade by acquiring a new newsstand distributor and greatly expanding its comics line. Marvel pulled ahead of rival [[DC Comics]] in 1972, during a time when the price and format of the standard newsstand comic were in flux.<ref>{{cite book|quote= Marvel took advantage of this moment to surpass DC in title production for the first time since 1957, and in sales for the first time ever. |authorlink= Paul Levitz|last=Levitz|first= Paul|title= 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking|publisher= [[Taschen|Taschen America]] |year=2010| isbn= 978-3-8365-1981-6|page= 451 }}</ref> Goodman increased the price and size of Marvel's November 1971 cover-dated comics from 15 cents for 36 pages total to 25 cents for 52 pages. DC followed suit, but Marvel the following month dropped its comics to 20 cents for 36 pages, offering a lower-priced product with a higher distributor discount.<ref>Daniels, ''Marvel'', pp.154–155</ref>

Goodman, now disconnected from Marvel, set up a new company called [[Atlas/Seaboard Comics|Seaboard Periodicals]] in 1974, reviving Marvel's old Atlas name for a new [[Atlas/Seaboard Comics|Atlas Comics]] line, but this lasted only a year-and-a-half.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cooke|first=Jon B.|title=Vengeance, Incorporated: A history of the short-lived comics publisher Atlas/Seaboard|url=http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/16goodman.html|accessdate=September 28, 2011|work=[[Comic Book Artist]] |number=16| date= December 2011| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20101201104708/http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/16goodman.html | archivedate=December 1, 2010|deadurl=no}}</ref>
In the mid-1970s a decline of the newsstand distribution network affected Marvel. Cult hits such as ''Howard the Duck'' fell victim to the distribution problems, with some titles reporting low sales when in fact the first specialty comic book stores resold them at a later date.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} But by the end of the decade, Marvel's fortunes were reviving, thanks to the rise of [[direct market]] distribution—selling through those same comics-specialty stores instead of newsstands.

Marvel held its own [[Fan convention|comic book convention]], Marvelcon '75, in spring 1975, and promised a Marvelcon '76. At the 1975 event, Stan Lee used a [[Fantastic Four]] panel discussion to announce that [[Jack Kirby]], the artist co-creator of most of Marvel's signature characters, was returning to Marvel after having left in 1970 to work for rival [[DC Comics]].<ref>[[Bullpen Bulletins]]: "The King is Back! 'Nuff Said!", in Marvel Comics [[cover date]]d October 1975, including ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #163</ref> In October 1976, Marvel, which already licensed reprints in different countries, including the UK, created a superhero specifically for the British market. [[Captain Britain]] debuted exclusively in the UK, and later appeared in American comics.<ref>Specific series- and issue-dates in article are collectively per GCD and other databases given under References</ref>

[[File:Secretwars1.png|thumb|''[[Secret Wars|Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars]]'' #1 (May 1984). Cover art by [[Mike Zeck]].<ref>Both pencils and inks per UHBMCC; GCD remains uncertain on inker.</ref>]]

In 1978, [[Jim Shooter]] became Marvel's editor-in-chief. Although a controversial personality, Shooter cured many of the procedural ills at Marvel, including repeatedly missed deadlines. During Shooter's nine-year tenure as editor-in-chief, [[Chris Claremont]] and [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]'s run on the ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' and Frank Miller's run on ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]]'' became critical and commercial successes.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} Shooter brought Marvel into the rapidly evolving [[direct market]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=Marvel Focuses On Direct Sales|work=[[The Comics Journal]] |number=59 |date=October 1980|pages= 11–12}}</ref> institutionalized creator royalties, starting with the [[Epic Comics]] imprint for [[creator ownership|creator-owned]] material in 1982; introduced company-wide crossover story arcs with ''[[Contest of Champions]]'' and ''[[Secret Wars]]''; and in 1986 launched the ultimately unsuccessful [[New Universe]] line to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Marvel Comics imprint. [[Star Comics]], a children-oriented line differing from the regular Marvel titles, was briefly successful during this period.

Despite Marvel's successes in the early 1980s, it lost ground to rival DC in the latter half of the decade as many former Marvel stars defected to the competitor. DC scored critical and sales victories<ref>{{cite journal|title=DC Overcomes Marvel In Sales|work=[[The Comics Journal]] |number=118 |date=December 1987|page= 24}}</ref> with titles and [[limited series]] such as ''[[Watchmen]]'', ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]'', ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', Byrne's revamp of [[Superman]], and [[Alan Moore]]'s ''[[Swamp Thing]]''.

===Marvel Entertainment Group ownership===
In 1986, Marvel's parent, [[Marvel Entertainment Group]], was sold to [[New World Communications|New World Entertainment]], which within three years sold it to [[MacAndrews and Forbes]], owned by [[Revlon]] executive [[Ronald Perelman]].

[[File:Spiderman1cover.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]'' #1, later renamed "Peter Parker: Spider-Man" (August 1990; second printing). Cover art by [[Todd McFarlane]].]]
Marvel earned a great deal of money and recognition during the comic book boom of the early 1990s, launching the successful [[Marvel 2099|2099]] line of comics set in the future (''[[Spider-Man 2099]]'', etc.) and the creatively daring though commercially unsuccessful [[Razorline]] imprint of [[superhero]] comics created by novelist and filmmaker [[Clive Barker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clivebarker.com/html/visions/bib/comics/ |title=Clive Barker official site: Comics |publisher=Clivebarker.com |date=November 28, 1999 |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/razorlin.htm |title=Independent Heroes from the USA: Clive Barker's Razorline |publisher=Internationalhero.co.uk |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref> In 1991 Marvel began selling [[Marvel Universe Cards]] with trading card maker [[SkyBox International]]. These were collectible trading cards that featured the characters and events of the Marvel Universe. The 1990s saw the rise of [[variant cover]]s, cover enhancements, [[Marvel Illustrated Swimsuit|swimsuit issues]], and company-wide crossovers that affected the overall continuity of the fictional [[Marvel Universe]]

Marvel suffered a blow in early 1992, when seven of its most prized artists—[[Todd McFarlane]] (known for his work on ''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]''), [[Jim Lee]] (''[[X-Men]]''), [[Rob Liefeld]] (''[[X-Force]]''), [[Marc Silvestri]] (''[[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]]''), [[Erik Larsen]] (''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''), [[Jim Valentino]] (''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]''), and [[Whilce Portacio]]—left to form [[Image Comics]].<ref name="TCJ">{{cite journal|title=Bye Bye Marvel; Here Comes Image: Portacio, Claremont, Liefeld, Jim Lee Join McFarlane's New Imprint at Malibu|work=[[The Comics Journal]] | number = 48 | date=February 1992|pages= 11–12}}</ref>

In 1996, Marvel had almost all its titles participate in the "[[Onslaught Saga]]", a crossover that allowed Marvel to relaunch some of its flagship, and now flagging, characters such as the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and the [[Fantastic Four]], and [[outsource]] them to the studios of two of the former Marvel artists turned Image Comics founders, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. The relaunched titles were a solid success amidst a generally struggling industry,<ref>{{cite web | title = Capital Sale Tops Turbulent Year: The Top 10 Comics News Stories of 1996 | last = Miller | first = John Jackson | authorlink = John Jackson Miller | url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1672 | publisher = [[CBGXtra]] | accessdate = 2007-12-20 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071107094202/http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1672 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-11-07}}</ref> but Marvel discontinued the experiment after a one-year run and returned the characters to the Marvel Universe proper. In 1998, the company launched the imprint [[Marvel Knights]], taking place within Marvel continuity; helmed by soon-to-become editor-in-chief [[Joe Quesada]], it featured tough, gritty stories showcasing such characters as the [[Inhumans]], [[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] and [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]].

[[File:Marvlogo.jpeg|thumb|right|Marvel's logo, circa 1990s]]
In late 1994, Marvel acquired the comic book distributor [[Heroes World Distribution]] to use as its own exclusive distributor.<ref name="DuinCC">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Capital City" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 69</ref> As the industry's other major publishers made exclusive distribution deals with other companies, the ripple effect resulted in the survival of only one other major distributor in North America, [[Diamond Comic Distributors Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg131.html|last=Rozanski|first= Chuck |title=Diamond Ended Up With 50% of the Comics Market|publisher=MileHighComics.com |date= Undated|accessdate=April 27, 2010|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20110716200256/http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg131.html |archivedate = July 16, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="bNet">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_26/ai_18526328 |title=Diamond Comic Distributors acquires Capital City Distribution; Comic distribution industry stabilized by purchase|publisher=bNet: Business Wire via Findarticles.com|date=July 26, 1996 | accessdate=April 27, 2010}}</ref> In early 1997, when Marvel's Heroes World endeavor failed, Diamond also forged an exclusive deal with Marvel<ref>"Hello Again: Marvel Goes with Diamond," ''The Comics Journal'' #193 (February 1997), pp. 9–10.</ref>—giving the company its own section of its comics catalog ''Previews''.<ref name="DuinDiamond">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Diamond Comic Distributors" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 125-126</ref>

In 1991 [[Ronald Perelman]], whose company, [[MacAndrews & Forbes|Andrews Group]], had purchased Marvel Comic's Parent corporation, [[Marvel Entertainment Group]] (MEG) in 1989, took the company public. Following the rapid rise of this stock, Perelman issued a series of [[junk bond]]s that he used to acquire other entertainment companies, secured by MEG stock. Then, by the middle of the decade, the industry had slumped, and in December 1996 Marvel filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/11/business/marvel-reaches-agreement-to-emerge-from-bankruptcy.html| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110607193918/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/11/business/marvel-reaches-agreement-to-emerge-from-bankruptcy.html| archivedate = June 7, 2011 | title=Marvel Reaches Agreement to Emerge from Bankruptcy|work=The New York Times| date=July 11, 1997|page= D3| deadurl=no}}</ref>

===Marvel Enterprises===
In 1997, [[Toy Biz]] and MEG merged to end the bankruptcy, forming a new corporation, [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel Enterprises]].<ref name="NYT" /> With his business partner [[Avi Arad]], publisher [[Bill Jemas]], and editor-in-chief [[Bob Harras]], Toy Biz co-owner [[Isaac Perlmutter]] helped stabilize the comics line.<ref>{{cite book|title= Comic War: Marvel's Battle for Survival| authorlink=Dan Raviv|first=Dan|last=Raviv|publisher=Heroes Books| year=2001|isbn=978-0-7851-1606-6}} '''page number?'''</ref>

With the new millennium, Marvel Comics emerged from bankruptcy and again began diversifying its offerings. In 2001, Marvel withdrew from the [[Comics Code Authority]] and established its own [[Marvel Rating System]] for comics. The first title from this era to not have the code was ''[[X-Force]]'' #119 (October 2001). Marvel also created new [[imprint]]s, such as [[MAX (comics)|MAX]] (an explicit-content line) and [[Marvel Adventures]] (developed for child audiences). In addition, the company created an [[Multiverse|alternate universe]] imprint, [[Ultimate Marvel]], that allowed the company to [[reboot (continuity)|reboot]] its major titles by revising and updating its characters to introduce to a new generation.

Some of its characters have been turned into successful film franchises, such as the ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]'' movie series, starting in 2000, and the highest grossing series ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'', beginning in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=marvelcomics.htm |title=Franchises: Marvel Comics |publisher=Box Office Mojo |accessdate=April 27, 2010}}</ref>

In a cross-promotion, the November 1, 2006, episode of the CBS soap opera ''[[The Guiding Light]]'', titled "She's a Marvel", featured the character Harley Davidson Cooper (played by [[Beth Ehlers]]) as a superheroine named the Guiding Light.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.682.guiding_light |title=Guiding Light Comes to Comics! &#124; Marvel.com News |publisher=Marvel.com |accessdate=April 27, 2010}}</ref> The character's story continued in an eight-page backup feature, "A New Light", that appeared in several Marvel titles published November 1 and 8.<ref>{{cite news|authorlink=George Gustines|last=Gustines|first= George|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/arts/television/31guid.html?_r=1&ref=arts |title=Pulpy TV and Soapy Comics Find a Lot to Agree On|work=The New York Times|date= October 31, 2006}}</ref> Also that year, Marvel created a [[wiki]] on its Web site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marvel.com/universe/Main_Page |title=Marvel Universe wiki |publisher=Marvel.com |date=June 11, 2007 |accessdate=April 27, 2010}}</ref>

In late 2007 the company launched [[Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited]], a digital archive of over 2,500 back issues available for viewing, for a monthly or annual subscription fee.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-11-12-comics-online-main_N.htm Colton, David. "Marvel Comics Shows Its Marvelous Colors in Online Archive"], ''USA Today'', November 12, 2007</ref>

In 2009 Marvel Comics closed its Open Submissions Policy, in which the company had accepted unsolicited samples from aspiring comic book artists, saying the time-consuming review process had produced no suitably professional work.<ref name="closedpolicy">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090403-cebeulski-marvel-submissions.html|title=C.B. Cebulski on Marvel's Closed Open Submissions Policy|last=Doran|first=Michael|date=April 3, 2009|publisher=Newsarama|accessdate=April 5, 2009}}</ref> The same year, the company commemorated its 70th anniversary, dating to its inception as [[Timely Comics]], by issuing the one-shot ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics]] 70th Anniversary Special'' #1 and a variety of other special issues.<ref>Frisk, Andy. [http://www.comicbookbin.com/Marvel_Mystery_Comics_70th_Anniversary_Special_1.html ''Marvel Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special'' #1] (review), ComicBookBin.com, June 6, 2009.<!--wasn't archivable through WebCitation.org--></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22344 |title=Celebrate Marvel's 70th Anniversary with Your Local Comic Shop|publisher= Marvel Comics [[press release]] via ComicBookResources.com|date= July 31, 2009|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5tbhMxnO4 | archivedate=October 19, 2010|deadurl=no}}</ref>

===Disney conglomerate unit===
On August 31, 2009, [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced a deal to acquire Marvel Comics' parent corporation, Marvel Entertainment, for $4 billion<ref name="Disney" /> or $4.2 billion,<ref name=spi/> with Marvel [[shareholders]] to receive $30 and 0.745 Disney shares for each share of Marvel they own.<ref name="Disney">{{cite web|title=Disney to Acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4B|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-to-acquire-marvel-entertainment-for-4b-2009-08-31|publisher=[[MarketWatch.com]]|date=August 31, 2009|accessdate=October 4, 2011|first=David B. |last=Wilkerson| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110608001308/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-to-acquire-marvel-entertainment-for-4b-2009-08-31 | archivedate= June 8, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref> As of 2008, Marvel and its major, longtime competitor [[DC Comics]] shared over 80% of the American comic-book market.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/10/news/companies/siklos_marvel.fortune/ | publisher = [[CNN]] | title=Spoiler alert: Comic books are alive and kicking | date=October 13, 2008 | accessdate=May 1, 2010 | first=Richard | last=Siklos}}</ref>

[[File:6.21.10BrubakerGageFractionBendisByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|Prominent writers of Marvel titles in the 2010s include (seated left to right) [[Ed Brubaker]], [[Christos Gage]], [[Matt Fraction]] and [[Brian Michael Bendis]].]]
Marvel relaunched the [[CrossGen]] imprint, owned by [[Disney Publishing Worldwide]], in March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Calvin|title=Marvel Revives CrossGen with New Creators, New Stories| url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/45594-marvel-revives-crossgen-with-new-creators-new-stories.html |accessdate=October 12, 2011|newspaper=Publishers Weekly|date=December 21, 2010}}</ref> Marvel and Disney Publishing began jointly publishing ''Disney/Pixar Presents'' magazine in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title ='Cars' Creative Team On Marvel's Pixar Move|url =http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30902 |accessdate=October 28, 2011|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=February 17, 2011}}</ref>

Marvel discontinued its [[Marvel Adventures]] imprint in March 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35998 |title= Marvel Ends Current Kids Line of Comics |date=December 19, 2011 |publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> and replaced them with a line of two titles connected to the [[Marvel Universe (TV)|Marvel Universe TV block]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36580 |title= Marvel Launches All-Ages "Avengers" & "Ultimate Spider-Man" Comics |date=January 24, 2012|publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> Also in March 2012, Marvel announced its Marvel ReEvoultion initiative that included Infinite Comics,<ref name=lat>{{cite news|title=Marvel, circus company join forces for superhero arena show |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/marvel-circus-company-join-forces-for-superhero-arena-show/#/2 |accessdate=11 May 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 13, 2013}}</ref> a line of [[digital comics]], Marvel AR, an [[application software]] that provides an [[augmented reality]] experience to readers and [[Marvel NOW!]], a relaunch of most of the company's major titles with different creative teams.<ref name="ReEvolution1">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37478 |title=Marvel Wants You To Join The ReEvolution |last= |first= |date=12 March 2012 |publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref><ref name="NOW!">{{cite web|author=[[Alonso, Axel]] |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40532 |title=Axel-In-Charge: "Avengers Vs. X-Men's" Final Phase|date=17 August 2012 |publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> Marvel NOW! also saw the debut of new flagship titles including ''[[Uncanny Avengers]]'' and ''[[All-New X-Men]]''.<ref name="launch">{{cite web |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/19008/marvel_now |title=Marvel NOW! |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=5 July 2012 |publisher=Marvel Comics|accessdate=7 August 2012}}</ref>

A couple of joint comic projects were announced by Marvel and other Disney conglomerate components in 2013. With ABC, an "[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)#Graphic novel|Once Upon a Time" graphic novel]] was announced in April to be published on September 4.<ref>Sands, Rich. (April 12, 2013) [http://www.tvguide.com/News/Once-Time-Graphic-Novel-1063959.aspx First Look: The Once Upon a Time Graphic Novel]. TV Guide.com. Accessed on November 4, 2013.</ref> With Disney, the company announced in October 2013 that in January 2014 its first title under their joint "Disney Kingdoms" imprint "Seekers of the Weird", a five issue miniseries, would be released.<ref name=spi>{{cite news|title=Marvel, Disney unveil 1st comic under new imprint |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Marvel-Disney-unveil-1st-comic-under-new-imprint-4878283.php |accessdate=October 17, 2013|agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=October 8, 2013 }}</ref>

==Officers==
* Michael Z. Hobson, Executive Vice President, Publishing<ref name=chacb>{{cite book |title=A complete history of American comic books |last=Rhoades |first=Shirrel |year= 2008|publisher=Peter Lang Publishing |location=New York, NY |isbn= 978-1-4331-0107-6|pages=X–XI |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=O16BXbITZwEC&lpg=PP1&dq=A%20complete%20history%20of%20American%20comic%20books&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false |accessdate=March 18, 2011 }}</ref> Group vice-president, publishing (1986)<ref name=mdtx>{{cite news|last=Gilroy|first=Dan|title=Marvel Now a $100 Million Hulk: Marvel Divisions and Top Execs|url=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehenm6Qnx2g/TpcQJrcCJII/AAAAAAAAAgA/77b39kyZftM/s1600/variety25-2.jpg|accessdate=October 18, 2011 | newspaper = Variety |date = September 17, 1986 |archiveurl = http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehenm6Qnx2g/TpcQJrcCJII/AAAAAAAAAgA/77b39kyZftM/s1600/variety25-2.jpg |archivedate=October 13, 2011|page=81|format=jpeg}}</ref>
* [[Stan Lee]], executive vice president & publisher (1986)<ref name=mdtx/>
* Joseph Calamari, executive vice president (1986)<ref name=mdtx/>
* [[Jim Shooter]], vice president and Editor-in-Chief (1986)<ref name=mdtx/>

===Publishers===
* Abraham Goodman 1939<ref name="MMC4" /> – ?
* [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] ? – 1972<ref name=Ronin>{{cite book|last=Ro|first=Ronin|title=Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution|year=2004|publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|page= [http://books.google.com/books?id=CFhbqswztWkC&lpg=PA179&ots=8o1B9uCxtz&dq=Sheldon%20Feinberg%20Cadence%20Industries&pg=PA179#v=onepage&q=Sheldon%20Feinberg%20Cadence%20Industries&f=false 179]}}</ref>
* Charles "Chip" Goodman 1972<ref name=Ronin/>
* [[Stan Lee]] 1972 – October 1996<ref name=Ronin/><ref name="autobio"/><ref name=chacb>{{cite book |title=A complete history of American comic books |last=Rhoades |first=Shirrel |publisher=Peter Lang Publishing |location=New York, NY |isbn= 9781433101076|pages=X–XI |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=O16BXbITZwEC&lpg=PP1&dq=A%20complete%20history%20of%20American%20comic%20books&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false |accessdate=March 18, 2011 |year=2008 }}</ref>
* Shirrell Roades October 1996 – October 1998<ref name=chacb/>
* Winston Fowlkes February 1998 – November 1999<ref name=chacb/>
* [[Bill Jemas]] February 2000 – 2003<ref name=chacb/>
* [[Dan Buckley]] 2003–present<ref>{{cite news|last=Weiland|first=Jonah|title=Marvel confirms Buckley as new Publisher|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2746|accessdate=August 31, 2011|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=October 15, 2003}}</ref>

===Editors-in-chief===
Marvel's chief editor originally held the title of "editor". This head editor's title later became "editor-in-chief". [[Joe Simon]] was the company's first true chief-editor, with publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]], who had served as titular editor only and outsourced editorial operations.

In 1994 Marvel briefly abolished the position of editor-in-chief, replacing [[Tom DeFalco]] with five group editors-in-chief. As Carl Potts described the 1990s editorial arrangement:

{{quote|In the early '90s, Marvel had so many titles that there were three Executive Editors, each overseeing approximately 1/3 of the line. [[Bob Budiansky]] was the third Executive Editor [following the previously appointed [[Mark Gruenwald]] and Potts]. We all answered to Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco and Publisher Mike Hobson. All three Executive Editors decided not to add our names to the already crowded credits on the Marvel titles. Therefore it wasn't easy for readers to tell which titles were produced by which Executive Editor ... In late '94, Marvel reorganized into a number of different publishing divisions, each with its own Editor-in-Chief.<ref name=pop>
{{cite web|url=http://www.popimage.com/may00/interviews/pottsinter.html|title=Interview: Carl Potts|publisher=PopImage.com|date=May 2000|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5nKbo09Ec|archivedate=February 5, 2010|deadurl=no}}</ref>}}

Marvel reinstated the overall editor-in-chief position in 1995 with [[Bob Harras]].

; Editor
* [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] (1939–1940; titular only)<ref name="MMC4" />
* [[Joe Simon]] (1940–1941)
* [[Stan Lee]] (1941–1942)
* [[Vincent Fago]] (acting editor during Lee's military service) (1942–1945)
* Stan Lee (1945–1972)
* [[Roy Thomas]] (1972–1974)
* [[Len Wein]] (1974–1975)
* [[Marv Wolfman]] ([[black-and-white]] magazines 1974–1975, entire line 1975–1976)
* [[Gerry Conway]] (1976)
* [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]] (1976–1978)

; Editor-in-chief
* [[Jim Shooter]] (1978–1987)
* [[Tom DeFalco]] (1987–1994)
* ''No overall''; separate group editors-in-chief (1994–1995)
** [[Mark Gruenwald]], Universe ([[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] & Cosmic)
** [[Bob Harras]], [[X-Men|Mutant]]
** [[Bob Budiansky]], [[Spider-Man]]
** Bobbie Chase, [[Marvel Edge]]
** [[Carl Potts]], [[Epic Comics]] & general entertainment<ref name=pop />
* [[Bob Harras]] (1995–2000)
* [[Joe Quesada]] (2000–2011)
* [[Axel Alonso]] (2011–present)

<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:125
PlotArea = left:0 bottom:20 top:20 right:00
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = yyyy # European date format
Period = from:1935 till:2014
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1935
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1935
AlignBars = justify

PlotData = align:middle textcolor:black fontsize:10 mark:(line,white) width:50 shift:(0,0)
bar: editor
from:1939 till:1940 color:coral text:"[[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin~Goodman]]" shift:(-20,25)
from:1940 till:1941 color:skyblue text:"[[Joe Simon|Joe~Simon]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1941 till:1942 color:coral text:"[[Stan Lee|Stan~Lee]]" shift:(-10,-25)
from:1942 till:1945 color:skyblue text:"[[Vincent Fago|Vincent~Fago]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1945 till:1972 color:coral text:"[[Stan Lee|Stan~Lee]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1972 till:1974 color:skyblue text:"[[Roy Thomas|Roy~Thomas]]" shift:(-20,25)
from:1974 till:1975 color:coral text:"[[Len Wein|Len~Wein]]" shift:(-10,0)
from:1975 till:1976 color:skyblue text:"[[Marv Wolfman|Marv~Wolfman]]" shift:(-15,-25)
from:1976 till:1978 color:coral text:"[[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie~Goodwin]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1978 till:1987 color:skyblue text:"[[Jim Shooter|Jim~Shooter]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1987 till:1994 color:coral text:"[[Tom DeFalco|Tom~DeFalco]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:1994 till:1995 color:skyblue text:"No overall" shift:(-15,-15)
from:1995 till:2000 color:coral text:"[[Bob Harras|Bob~Harras]]" shift:(-15,0)
from:2000 till:2011 color:skyblue text:"[[Joe Quesada|Joe~Quesada]]" shift:(-10,0)
from:2011 till:end color:coral text:"[[Axel Alonso|Axel~Alonso]]" shift:(-15,0)
at:1976 mark:(line,white) text:"[[Gerry Conway (auteur)|Gerry~Conway]]" shift:(-15,25)
</timeline>

===Executive Editor===
Originally called associate editor when Marvel's chief editor just carried the title of editor, the title of the next highest editorial position became executive editor under the chief editor title of editor-in-chief. The title of associate editor later was revived under the editor-in-chief as a editorial position in charge of few titles under the direction of an editor and without an assistant editor.

; Associate Editor
* [[Chris Claremont]] {{citation needed|date=August 2012}}?–1976
* Jim Shooter January 5, 1976 – January 2, 1978<ref>{{cite web|title=1976-1979|url=http://dccomicsartists.com/dchistory/DCHISTORY-6.htm|work=DC Timeline |publisher=dccomicsartists.com |accessdate=21 October 2011}}</ref>

; Executive Editor
* [[Tom DeFalco]] 1987
* [[Mark Gruenwald]] 1987–1994, senior editor 1995–1996
* [[Carl Potts]] Epic 1989–1994,<ref name=pop>[http://www.popimage.com/may00/interviews/pottsinter.html "Interview: Carl Potts"] PopImage.com, May 2000. [http://www.webcitation.org/5nKbo09Ec WebCitation archive].</ref> 1995–
* [[Bob Budiansky]] early '90s – 1994<ref name=pop/>
* Bobbie Chase 1995–2001
* [[Tom Brevoort]] 2007–present<ref>{{cite news|last=Frankenhoff|first=Brent|title=Marvel editors Axel Alonso, Tom Brevoort promoted|url=http://cbgxtra.com/comics-news-and-notes/marvel-editors-axel-alonso-tom-brevoort-promoted|accessdate=10 October 2011|newspaper=Comics Buyer's Guide Extra|date=January 4, 2011}}</ref>
* Axel Alonso 2010 – January 2011<ref name=CBReic>Phegley, Kiel (January 4, 2011). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30169 "Alonso Named Marvel Editor-In-Chief"]. Comic Book Resources.</ref>

==Ownership==
* [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] (1961–1968)

; Parent Corporation
* [[Magazine Management|Magazine Management Co.]] (1968–1973)
* [[Cadence Industries]] (1973–1986)
* [[Marvel Entertainment Group]] (1986–1998)
* [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel Enterprises]]
** Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (1998–2005)
** [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel Entertainment, Inc]] (2005–2009)
** Marvel Entertainment, LLC (2009–present)

==Offices==
Located in New York City, Marvel has been successively headquartered in the [[330 West 42nd Street|McGraw-Hill Building]],<ref name="MMC4" /><ref name=guideto /> where it originated as [[Timely Comics]] in 1939; in suite 1401 of the [[Empire State Building]];<ref name=guideto>Sanderson, Peter. [http://books.google.com/books?id=u4PMIT0Rv7cC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=%22marvel%22+%22empire+state+building%22+1401&source=bl&ots=wFxm6F-yv6&sig=hKIQpdReyj9nxJj48lZFeEXBKwk&hl=en&ei=8cajSoDYFMac8QaZx-nwDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#v=onepage&q=%22marvel%22%20%22empire%20state%20building%22%201401&f=false ''The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City''], ([[Pocket Books]], 2007) p. 59. ISBN 978-1-4165-3141-8</ref> at 635 [[Madison Avenue (Manhattan)|Madison Avenue]] (the actual location, though the comic books' [[Indicia (publishing)|indicia]] listed the parent publishing-company's address of 625 Madison Ave.);<ref name=guideto /> 575 Madison Avenue;<ref name=guideto /> 387 Park Avenue South;<ref name=guideto /> [[10 East 40th Street]];<ref name=guideto /> 417 [[Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)|Fifth Avenue]];<ref name=guideto /> and a {{convert|60000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} space at 135 W. 50th Street.<ref name=cbr>[http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/09/marvel-to-move-to-new-60000-square-foot-offices-in-october/ "Marvel to move to new, 60,000-square-foot offices in October"]. Comic Book Resources. September 21, 2010.</ref><ref>Turner, Zake. [http://www.observer.com/2010/real-estate/where-we-work "Where We Work"], ''[[The New York Observer]]'', December 21, 2010</ref>

==Marvel characters in other media==
Marvel characters and stories have been adapted to many other media. Some of these adaptations were produced by Marvel Comics and its sister company, [[Marvel Studios]], while others were produced by companies licensing Marvel material.

===Films===
{{Main|List of films based on Marvel Comics}}
As of the start of the 2013 summer movie season, films based on Marvel's properties represent the highest-grossing U.S. franchise, having grossed over $5.4 billion as part of a worldwide gross of over $12 billion.<ref>[http://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/?view=Brand&sort=sumgross&order=DESC&p=.htm "Franchise Index"]. [[Box Office Mojo]]. Retrieved May 29, 2013.</ref>

===Television programs===
{{Main|List of television series based on Marvel Comics}}
Many television series, both live-action and animated, have based their productions on Marvel Comics characters. These include multiple series for popular characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men. Additionally, a handful of television movies based on Marvel Comics characters have been made.

===Video games===
{{Main|List of video games based on Marvel Comics}}
Marvel has licensed a number of video games of various genres. Some entries have been popular [[arcade game]]s like ''[[Captain America and The Avengers]]'', ''[[Spider-Man: The Video Game]]'' and ''[[X-Men (1992 video game)|X-Men]]''. Other installments have been the recent ''[[Marvel Ultimate Alliance]]'' strategy games, and the long-standing [[fighting game]] series ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom (series)|Marvel vs. Capcom]]''.
Marvel also made a series of [[digital comics]] that serve as prequels to ''[[Epic Mickey|Disney Epic Mickey]]''.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The same game has been remodeled as an arcade game as well.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

In June 2012, [[Club Penguin]], an affiliate of Marvel through Disney, will being adding Marvel characters to the online game.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookmovie.com/animated_features/news/?a=59997 |title=Marvel comes to Club Penguin! | date=May 18, 2012 |accessdate=May 21, 2012 }}</ref>

===Prose novels===
{{Main|Marvel Books|Marvel Press}}
Marvel first licensed two prose novels to [[Bantam Books]], who printed ''The Avengers Battle the Earth Wrecker'' by [[Otto Binder]] (1967) and ''Captain America: The Great Gold Steal'' by [[Ted White (author)|Ted White]] (1968). Various publishers took up the licenses from 1978 to 2002. Also, with the various licensed films being released beginning in 1997, various publishers put out movie [[novelizations]].<ref name=mcpug>{{cite web|authorlink=Keith R.A. DeCandido|first=Keith R.A. |last=DeCandido |title=Marvel Comics in Prose: An Unofficial Guide |url= http://www.sff.net/people/krad/marvel.htm |publisher= SFF.net |accessdate=October 4, 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/62C98NYPC | archivedate=October 4, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref> In 2003, following publication of the prose [[young adult novel]] ''Mary Jane'', starring [[Mary Jane Watson]] from the [[Spider-Man]] mythos, Marvel announced the formation of the publishing [[imprint]] [[Marvel Press]].<ref name=cbr1>{{cite web|title=Marvel Announces Creation of New Prose Imprint, Marvel Press|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=3552|accessdate=August 24, 2011|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=May 26, 2004|last=Weiland| first=Jonah|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/61BQDXKZC | archivedate = August 24, 2011}}</ref> However, Marvel moved back to licensing with Pocket Books from 2005 to 2008.<ref name=mcpug/> With few books issued under the imprint, Marvel and [[Disney Publishing Worldwide|Disney Books Group]] relaunched Marvel Press in 2011 with the Marvel Origin Storybooks line.<ref name=cbr2>{{cite news|last=Alverson|first=Brigid|title=SDCC '11 {{!}} Disney to unveil Marvel Press imprint at San Diego|url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/sdcc-11-disney-to-unveil-marvel-press-imprint-at-san-diego/|accessdate=September 28, 2011|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=July 15, 2011|archiveurl=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2c6GX67UY34J:robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/sdcc-11-disney-to-unveil-marvel-press-imprint-at-san-diego/+Marvel+Press&hl=en&gl=us&strip=1|archivedate=September 25, 2011}}</ref>

===Role-playing games===
[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] published the pen-and-paper [[role-playing game]] [[Marvel Super Heroes (role-playing game)|Marvel Super Heroes]] in 1984. TSR then released the ''[[Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game]]'' in 1998. In 2003 Marvel Publishing published its own role-playing game, the ''[[Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kim |first=John H. |title=RPG Encyclopedia: M | url=http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/encyclopedia/alphabetical/M.html#marveluniverse |work=RPG Encyclopedia |publisher=darkshire.net |accessdate=December 8, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2011 [[Margaret Weis Productions]] announced it was developing a [[tabletop role-playing game]] based on the Marvel universe, set for release in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.margaretweis.com/news/116-marvel-mwp-2012| title=Margaret Weis Productions Teams Up with Marvel Entertainment to Unleash Marvel Heroes Roleplaying Games | publisher= [[Margaret Weis Productions]] [[press release]] | date= August 10, 2011|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref><!--can't seem to archive Weis press release; maybe someone else will have better luck--><ref>{{cite web|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/08/05/gen-con-new-marvel-comics-rpg-games-announced-by-margaret-weis-productions/|title= Gen Con: New Marvel Comics RPG Games Announced by Margaret Weis Productions|date=August 5, 2011|first=George|last= Holochwost|accessdate=September 28, 2011|publisher=[[MTV|MTV.com]]| archiveurl=http://liveweb.archive.org/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/08/05/gen-con-new-marvel-comics-rpg-games-announced-by-margaret-weis-productions/| archivedate=September 28, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>

===Theme parks===
Marvel has licensed its characters for theme-parks and attractions, including at the [[Universal Orlando Resort]]'s [[Islands of Adventure]], in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], Florida, which includes rides based on their iconic characters and costumed performers.<ref>[http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure/map.html Universal's Islands of Adventures: Marvel Super Hero Island] official site</ref> Universal theme parks in California and Japan also have Marvel rides.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web| url = http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2171124120070322|publisher= Reuters|title=Marvel Theme Park to Open in Dubai by 2011| date=March 22, 2007|accessdate=September 28, 2011 | archiveurl=http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/22/us-dubai-marvel-idUSL2171124120070322 |archivedate=September 28, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>

[[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]] plans on creating original Marvel attractions at their theme parks,<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/14/business/la-fi-ct-disney-shareholders-meeting-20120314 | title=Walt Disney plans to deploy Marvel superheroes at its theme parks | author=Dawn C. Chmielewski | work=The Los Angeles Times | date=March 14, 2012 | accessdate=April 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/disney-parks-might-soon-add-marvel-characters_n_1367023.html | title=Disney Parks Might Soon Add Marvel Characters| work=Huffington Post | date=March 20, 2012 | accessdate=April 4, 2012}}</ref> with [[Hong Kong Disneyland]] becoming the first Disney theme park to feature a [[Iron Man Experience|Marvel attraction]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chu|first=Karen|title=Hong Kong Disneyland to Open 'Iron Man' Experience in 2016|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hong-kong-disneyland-open-iron-644562|accessdate=8 October 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=8 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.budget.gov.hk/2013/eng/budget06.html|title=The 2013–14 Budget – Promoting Tourism Industry|date=February 27, 2013|publisher=Hong Kong Government|author=[[John Tsang]]}}</ref>

==Imprints==
* Disney Kingdoms<ref name=spi/>
* [[Icon Comics]]
* Marvel Comics
* [[Marvel Press]], joint imprint with [[Disney Publishing Worldwide|Disney Books Group]]
* [[Max (comics)|MAX]]
* [[Ultimate Marvel|Ultimate Comics]]
* [[Infinite Comics]]

===Defunct===
* [[Amalgam Comics]]
* [[CrossGen]]
* Curtis Magazines/Marvel Magazine Group
** Marvel Monsters Group
* [[Epic Comics]] (creator owned) (1982–2004)
* [[Malibu Comics]] (1994–1997)
* [[Marvel 2099]] (1992–1998)
* [[Marvel Absurd]]
* [[Marvel Adventures|Marvel Age/Adventures]]
* [[Marvel Books]]
* [[Marvel Knights]]
* [[Marvel Illustrated]]
* [[Marvel Mangaverse]]
* [[Marvel Music]]
* [[Marvel Next]]
* [[Marvel Noir]]
* [[Marvel UK]]
* [[Marvel Comics 2|MC2]]
* [[New Universe]]
* [[Paramount Comics]] (co-owned with [[Viacom]]'s [[Paramount Pictures]])
* [[Razorline]]
* [[Soleil Productions|Soleil]]
* [[Star Comics]]
* [[Tsunami (Marvel Comics)|Tsunami]]

; Former Marvel Comics line
* [[Marvel Edge]]

==See also==
{{Wikipedia books|Marvel Comics}}
* [[List of Marvel Comics publications (A–M)]]
* [[List of Marvel Comics publications (N–Z)]]
* [[List of magazines released by Marvel Comics in the 1970s]]
* [[Panini Comics]]
* [[Soleil Productions]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* ''All in Color for a Dime'' by Dick Lupoff & Don Thompson. ISBN 0-87341-498-5.
* ''Jack Kirby: The TCJ Interviews'', Milo George, ed. (Fantagraphics Books, Inc., 2001). ISBN 1-56097-434-6.
* ''Marvel Comics: the Untold Story'' by Sean Howe. First ed. New York: Harper, 2012. 485 pp. ISBN 978-0-06-199210-0.
* ''Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book'' by Gerard Jones (Basic Books, 2004). trade paperback ISBN 0-465-03657-0.
* ''The Steranko History of Comics'', Vol. 1 by [[Jim Steranko|James Steranko]]. ISBN 0-517-50188-0.

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Appendix:Marvel Comics}}
* {{Official website|http://www.marvel.com}}
* {{Facebook|Marvel|Marvel Comics}}
* {{Google+|+Marvel|Marvel Comics}}
* {{Twitter|Marvel|Marvel Comics}}
* {{YouTube|user=Marvel|Marvel Comics}}
* {{cite news|last=Vassallo |first= Michael J. |url=http://www.comicartville.com/bellman.htm |title=A Timely Talk with Allen Bellman|publisher= Comicartville.com|year= 2005|page=[http://www.comicartville.com/bellmanpg2.htm 2] |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5lYfiHjIi | archivedate=November 25, 2009|deadurl=no}}.

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Revision as of 21:45, 4 December 2013

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